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With regular mammograms, you could take a proactive approach to your health care. They could help you quickly identify abnormalities in your breast tissue, so you could begin the diagnostic process and receive treatment as soon as possible. While routine mammograms may cause a little discomfort, they can help provide you and your loved ones with peace of mind.
At age 40, you may want to consider getting your first mammogram. Doctors use mammograms to check the breast for abnormalities, making them vital to breast cancer screenings and diagnoses. Fortunately, many types of breast cancer are highly treatable, especially with early diagnosis. Mammograms can often detect potential issues before symptoms appear.
You don’t need symptoms or any family history of breast cancer to receive screenings. While routine cancer screenings may be a source of anxiety, mammograms are quick, safe, and essential for your overall health. By better understanding mammograms, you could make an informed decision about incorporating them into your medical life.
A mammogram works by using a special low-dose X-ray machine to scan breast tissue for abnormalities. Mammogram machines include two metal plates that flatten the breast, which spreads the dense breast tissue out. It’s easier for X-rays to scan the compressed tissue, so mammograms can use a smaller dose of radiation than a standard X-ray to produce a quality image. Standard mammograms take scans from two different angles (up-and-down and side-to-side).1
Doctors may also use three-dimensional (3D) mammograms. Instead of scanning the breast in only two angles, 3D mammograms take many low-dose X-rays in an arc around the breast. These types of mammograms create a more dimensional image of the breast tissue for doctors and may be especially useful for people with dense breast tissue.
Mammograms identify abnormalities in breast tissue so doctors and patients can proceed with more diagnostic tests. An irregularity on a mammogram doesn’t mean you certainly have breast cancer. However, it’s essential to follow up with continued diagnostic tests following abnormalities. Types of breast tissue changes that a mammogram may identify include:2
After you reach a certain age, mammograms become a vital tool for monitoring your health and living your best life.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Help cover yourself and your family with affordable coverage from Aflac.
People with an average risk of breast cancer should begin getting screenings in their 40s. The risk of getting this type of cancer increases as you get older, so regular screenings become more important. The United States Preventive Services Task Force (UPSTF) findings recommend regular mammograms starting around age 40 to improve early detection.3
While breast cancer is still rare in younger people, cases in that population are on the rise. Plus, some studies suggest that new 3D mammograms may be more accurate and limit false positives.4
If you have a high risk for breast cancer, you may want to start receiving mammograms before age 40. Some risk factors include:5
Following recommended breast cancer screening guidelines could help you quickly detect any signs of cancer and access any treatment you may need. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms through age 54. After age 55, the recommendation changes to every other year, as long as you’re otherwise healthy and expect to live for another decade or more.6
If you have any signs of breast cancer, you should undergo a diagnostic mammogram. Symptoms that may sometimes point to breast cancer include the following:7
These changes could have several possible causes. A diagnostic mammogram is the first step in identifying the root of those symptoms and beginning treatment.
Here are some benefits and drawbacks of mammograms that you should be aware of:
Mammograms could detect some breast cancers when they’re still too small for you or your doctor to feel during a breast exam. When you and your doctor detect cancer early, treatment may be easier. Early detection may reduce the risk of passing away from breast cancer by up to 30%.8
Mammograms take about 30 minutes. Many people only experience some discomfort while their breasts are compressed. However, you could take an over-the-counter pain reliever before or after the mammogram to manage discomfort.
Mammograms expose you to minimal amounts of radiation. The average person in the United States is exposed to around 3.0 millisieverts (the standard unit for measuring radiation) of radiation in a year from the world around them. The standard radiation dose for a mammogram of both breasts is only a fraction of that figure, at .4 millisieverts.1
Even if you don’t have an increased risk for breast cancer, regular screenings could help ease anxiety about the disease. A regular mammogram offers reassurance about your breast health. If any abnormalities do arise, regular mammograms could help you address them quickly. Many breast cancers are highly treatable, and early detection could make a big difference in outcomes.
Mammograms can detect abnormalities but can’t always determine whether cancer is the cause. A screening may produce abnormal results in patients without cancer. If you receive a false positive, you might have to continue taking tests like biopsies, ultrasounds, or another mammogram.
Some types of cancers found in the breast never spread or grow and don’t pose any health issues. However, mammograms can’t identify what kind of breast cancer they detect. If they detect a harmless breast cancer, you may receive treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery that aren’t necessary for your well-being. This phenomenon is called overdiagnosis.
If you're at a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer, you may want to consider cancer insurance. Please click here to learn more about Aflac's cancer insurance. Aflac coverage can also help you cover necessary expenses like rent or groceries if you need to take tome off form work while undergoing treatment. For more information, contact an agent today for a quote.
1 American Cancer Society – Mammogram Basics. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/mammogram-basics.html. Accessed September 6, 2024.
2 American Cancer Society – What Does the Doctor Look for on a Mammogram? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/what-does-the-doctor-look-for-on-a-mammogram.html. Accessed September 6, 2024.
3 Consumer Reports – When Should You Get a Mammogram? Updated May 16, 2023. https://www.consumerreports.org/health/mammogram/when-to-get-a-mammogram-a2304409204/. Accessed September 6, 2024.
4 Yale School of Medicine - Advanced 3D Mammography Detects More Breast Cancers, Fewer False Positives. Updated September 17th, 2024. https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/advanced-3d-mammography-detects-more-breast-cancers-fewer-false-positives/. Accessed October 15th, 2024.
5 Northwestern Medicine - Who is Most at Risk for Breast Cancer. https://www.nm.org/conditions-and-care-areas/cancer-care/breast-health-program/breast-cancer-risk-assessment-and-prevention/who-is-at-risk-for-breast-cancer. Accessed September 6, 2024.
6 American Cancer Society – Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html. Accessed September 6, 2024.
7 National Breast Cancer Foundation – Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms. Updated August 1, 2024. https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-symptoms-and-signs/. Accessed September 6, 2024.
8 BreastCancer.Org – Mammography: Benefits, Risks, What You Need to Know. Updated June 15, 2023. https://www.breastcancer.org/screening-testing/mammograms/benefits-risks. Accessed September 6, 2024.
Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.
Aflac coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus. In New York, coverage is underwritten by American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.
Cancer insurance is also known as specified-disease insurance in some states. B70000 series: In Arkansas, Policies B70100AR, B70200AR, B70300AR, B7010EPAR, B7020EPAR. In Delaware, Policies B70100DE, B70200DE & B70300DE. In Idaho, Policies B70100ID, B70200ID, B70300ID, B7010EPID, B7020EPID. In Oklahoma, Policies B70100OK, B70200OK, B70300OK, B7010EPOK, B7020EPOK. In Oregon, Policies B70100OR, B70200OR, B70300OR, B7010EPOR, B7020EPOR. In Texas, Policies B70100TX, B70200TX, B70300TX, B7010EPTX, B7020EPTX. A78000 series: In New York, Policies, NY78100–NY78400. A76000 series: In Pennsylvania, Policy A76100PA. A75000 series: In Virginia, policies A75100VA–A75300VA.
Coverage underwritten by Tier One Insurance Company. Tier One Insurance Company is part of the Aflac family of insurers. In California, Tier One Insurance does business as Tier One Insurance Life Insurance Company (Tier One NAIC 92908).
Cancer/Specified-Disease: In Delaware, Policy T70000. In Idaho, Policy T70000ID. In Oklahoma, Policy T70000OK. In Virginia, policies T70000VA & T70000GVA. Not available in NY.
Coverage may not be available in all states, including but not limited to DE, ID, NJ, NM, NY or VA. Benefits/premium rates may vary based on state and plan levels. Optional riders may be available at an additional cost. Policies and riders may also contain a waiting period. Refer to the exact policy and rider forms for benefit details, definitions, limitations, and exclusions.
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